Goulburn poultry processing plan 'puts pressure' on infrastructure

That's equivalent to supplying water to another 7,596 people, says the council's general manager, Warwick Bennett.

"It's a significant amount of water and we have to ensure that in supplying it to the proponent we have enough capacity to provide for Goulburn's ongoing growth," Mr Bennett said.

Woodlands Ridge Poultry has lodged a development application to the State Government for the plant at 52 Sinclair Street. It plans to slaughter, process and package up to one million birds each week, including chicken turkeys, geese and quail.

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The plant would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The project also includes a 62-place childcare centre available for workers' families and the community, a cold storage and distribution centre and other associated works.

It's predicted to generate 88 jobs during construction and another 264 across two shifts when operational.

Woodlands Ridge director, Ed Wehbe, who already has a poultry farm on the Gurrundah Road, has purchased the 82,606 square metre site.

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If approved, the plant would become Goulburn's largest water user.

Mr Bennett said the council was supportive of the project but was having ongoing discussions with the Goulburn district based company on ways to supply that quantity. The water has to be clean.

"It's not insurmountable (but) 2.68 Megalitres (ML) of water a day at maximum capacity is a hell of a lot of water," he said.

"We are looking at the infrastructure in the precinct to ensure it is capable of supplying that amount of water. The issue is not so much the ability to supply it but the capacity of the wastewater and sewerage treatment plant to cope with that and an extra 3000 households (predicted) over the next 20 years. It's a matter of balancing those two things."

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The matter will be discussed at Tuesday night's council meeting. Planners have drafted a response to the state significant development, and are asking councillors' endorsement.

They said the development had estimated water use at 14ML per week, but in fact the stated 2.68ML daily average seven days a week equalled about 18ML per week.

They pointed to the recent sewerage treatment plant upgrade, catering for 30,000 people, with capacity to upgrade, providing for a 40,000 population.

"This is a large and significant impact on council's infrastructure," they wrote.

"...This would consume most of the capacity of the sewerage treatment plant included in the next upgrade and the water capacity would be used.

"The Goulburn raw water yield was found secure in 2011 based on one per cent growth for 30 years. This did not include significant high water user industries in Goulburn. This development would use the existing capacity available in our systems, forcing the council to move to the next upgrades for water and sewer."

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They suggested capping water use at 8-10ML/week to reduce the impact.

The State Government last year granted the council $7.15 million to build infrastructure in the area, known as the North Goulburn industrial precinct. It would cater for several businesses wanting to locate there, and help lure future growth.

But planners said a larger water pipe, beyond that nominated under the grant, would be required for the poultry processor, given the existing mains in Common Street were not large enough.

They recommend that a negotiated section 64 contribution plan for water and sewer infrastructure be included in any consent.

In April, 2018, councillors agreed to such an arrangement for the Tribe Brewery at South Goulburn. They deferred water and sewer charges for the first year. Instead, they were to be paid at the end of year two, and thereafter, at the end of each financial year's operation. It meant an almost $3.3m discount in section 64 charges, on top of a special industrial water rate previously agreed.

The brewery was expected to use 27.3ML of water in its first year but this was predicted to increase over time. Water availability from the Highland Source pipeline from Bowral was a key drawcard for the company.

Planners' report on the poultry enterprise states that a consultant's social impact statement "downplays" the impact on waste and wastewater management.

"Similarly, the EIS does not address the capability of the wastewater treatment process in relation to the required discharge to sewer. There has been no contact with the council to determine what pre-treatment is required for discharge to sewer," they stated.

Planners also highlight biosecurity issues, given the council tip's proximity and its receipt of animal carcasses, including Aviagen's poultry.

Their report also flags possible land use conflict between the processing plant and the childcare centre in an industrial area.

In addition, they want greater consideration of the impact of the view from Rocky Hill, and oppose the suggested zincalume roofing.

"The view from the Rocky Hill memorial is arguably one of the more important views for consideration," they wrote.

The development application is on public exhibition until October 23 and submissions are invited. It is available at this link.

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